Bicycle transporter

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for towing a bicycle with another bicycle when the first bicycle is also towing a baby jogging cart or, alternately, a bicycle trailer or trail-a-bike. Particularly useful for exercising with a child and allowing her to ride a bike until tired, and then towing the child&#39;s bike while she rests in the jogging cart, the apparatus comprises a bracket assembly which is removably mounted on the rear wheel support structure of the towing bicycle. The bracket assembly comprises a hitch pin which is removably attached by a flexible connector to the towing arm. The latter is connected to the front of the jogging cart and its undercarriage. Prior to towing the child&#39;s bike, one turns its front wheel approximately 90 degrees and places it between the axle of the jogging cart and the back of the cart&#39;s seat. Straps hold the wheel of the towed bicycle and its handle bar to the axle and to jogging cart handle, respectively. In this position, the handle bar bearings allow the towed bike to easily track behind the jogging cart. Further, when towed, the child&#39;s bike leans outward during turns; and its rear wheel is free to move over unevenness in the road, thus providing ease of handling for the towing bicyclist.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The subject matter of this application was disclosed in U.S.Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/277,905, filed Mar. 23,2001.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus fortransporting at least one bicycle behind another bicycle. Such anapparatus is particularly useful for occasions in which one bicyclistwishes to travel a shorter distance or take only a one-way trip and herpartner is willing to assume the responsibility for towing her bicyclefor the rest of the trip.

[0003] A further object of the present invention is to provide apedal-powered bicycle transporter which can be used even if the child'sbicycle has training wheels, thereby allowing it to serve for a longtime as tool to motivate both the adult and child to enjoy a funexercise together.

[0004] In accordance with the present invention, the apparatus comprisesa baby jogging cart equipped with a special adapter which allows it tobe used as a trailer behind a bicycle and at least one pair of strapsattached to the rear of the cart. With this combination, an adult canexercise with a child, while the child gains confidence and stamina withher own bicycle. Once the child becomes tired, she can rest in thejogging cart, while the adult, using the present invention, tows bothher and her bicycle.

[0005] Because of the special adaptor, a standard jogging cart can betowed behind a bicycle, without modifying the latter. Rather, thespecial adaptor includes a mounting bracket which, in use, is boltedonto the rear wheel support frame of the towing bicycle, near its axle.The mounting bracket comprises two meshing flange plates which are heldin assembled relation by a single bolt having an enlarged nut. This nutis easily tightened without the use of tools.

[0006] Also included in the special adaptor are a hitch pin mounted onone of the flange plates, a towing arm, and a flexible member forconnecting the hitch pin thereto. The flexible member, which ispreferably a short section of rubber hose, is held in place on the hitchpin by a hose clamp. In addition, a safety strap fastened to the towingarm is secured to the frame of the towing bicycle.

[0007] Distal from the towing bicycle, the towing arm is attached to thejogging cart from which its front wheel has been temporarily removed.Means for holding the towing arm and the jogging cart in assembledrelation comprises a spacer, a first bolt which is insertable therein, apair of second bolts which protrude downwardly from the undercarriage ofthe cart seat, and winged nuts for threadedly engaging the first andsecond bolts. The spacer accounts for the difference in width betweenthe towing bar and the front wheel of the jogging cart. The winged nutsallow for ease of installation and removal.

[0008] In use, the bicycle is towed with its front wheel turned about 90degrees and is placed between the rear axle of the jogging cart and theback of the jogging cart seat. Means for temporarily securing thebicycle to the rear of the cart include first and second straps and anelastic band. The first strap confines the rim of the towed bike wheelbetween the jogging cart axle and its vertical supports; and the secondstrap limits the movement of the bicycle handle bars relative to thehandle of the jogging cart. Once the towed bike is strapped into place,the elastic band is placed around the stem of its handle bars. Attachedto the cart's handle, distal ends of the elastic band are preferablyinserted into holes formed therein which are usually provided tofacilitate mounting a sun shield accessory on the jogging cart.

[0009] With the front wheel of the towed bicycle so positioned, itssteering post bearing facilitates turning movements. Also, the backwheel of the bicycle is free to move up or down so that it can rolleasily over any roughness in the road. Further, the towed bike is freeto lean as it goes around curves, shortening the turning radius.

[0010] The bicycle transporter according to the present invention can beused in combination with a wide variety of baby jogging cart models.Among these models are the Easy Strider R manufactured by Huffy (U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,029,891, D315885) and a stroller/jog ger from Instep (U.S.Pat. No. 5,029,891). Alternately, the bicycle transporter can be used incombination with currently marketed bicycle trailers and trail-a-bikedesigns.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective overview of the bicycle transporteraccording to the present invention, in use;

[0012]FIGS. 2 and 3 are rearward and side perspective view,respectively, of the bicycle transporter according to FIG. 1, showingthe first strap and fragmentary portions of a jogging cart and a towedbicycle mounted thereon;

[0013]FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the bicycle transporteraccording to FIG. 1, showing the first and second straps and the elasticband and fragmentary portions of the jogging cart and a towed bicyclemounted thereon;

[0014]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the bicycle transporter accordingto FIG. 1, showing the first and second straps and the elastic band,fragmentary portions of the jogging cart, and a towed bicycle mountedthereon, the towed bicycle being equipped with training wheels;

[0015]FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the mounting bracket assembly and afragmentary portion of the flexible member in the bicycle transporteraccording to FIG. 1;

[0016]FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the mounting bracketassembly, according to FIG. 6;

[0017]FIG. 8 is a top plan view of two meshing flange plates which, wheninterlocked, comprise the mounting bracket in the bicycle transporteraccording to FIG. 1;

[0018]FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of a fragmentary portion of thebicycle transporter according to FIG. 1, showing the towing arm and theflexible member, as well as the undercarriage of the jogging cart towhich the towing arm is attached;

[0019]FIGS. 10 and 12 are side elevation views of a fragmentary portionof a bicycle having a quick disconnect rear wheel and a standardbolted-on rear wheel, respectively, on which the bicycle transporter(not shown) according to FIG. 1 can be mounted; and

[0020]FIGS. 11 and 13 are perspective views of the mounting bracketassembly and a fragmentary portion of the flexible member in the bicycletransporter according to FIG. 1, the mounting bracket assembly beingshown secured to the frame of the bicycle shown, as a fragment, in FIGS.10 and 12, respectively.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0021] In the drawings, a bicycle transporter according to the presentinvention includes a towing arm 30 and a mounting bracket assembly.Distal ends of the towing arm 30 are connected to the rear wheel of afirst bicycle 2 and to a baby jogging cart 3, on the rear of which issecured a towed bicycle 4 (FIG. 1). The towing arm 30 is attached to thebicycle 2 in such a way that a baby seat 5 can be mounted thereon behinda rider 1 (FIG. 1).

[0022] The mounting bracket assembly comprises two meshing flange plates32, 33 which define central aperture 34 and end hole 36, respectively,and a hitch pin 44 (FIGS. 6, 7 and 8). The hitch pin 44 includes a bolt35 which is held in place within an end aperture 40 defined by thelonger flange plate 32 by a series of nuts and washers.

[0023] Once the flange plates 32, 33 have been coupled, they areinstalled on the first bicycle 2, which can have a quick disconnect rearwheel as shown prior to and post installation in FIGS. 11 and 13,respectively. Alternately, the meshing flange plates 32, 33 can bemounted on a bicycle having a standard bolted-on rear wheel (FIGS. 10and 12).

[0024] To install the mounting bracket assembly, one positions longerflange plate 32, with the shorter plate 33 coupled thereto, inside therear wheel support structure of the bicycle 2. Shorter flange plate 32is then moved into such a position that bolt 35 can be simultaneouslyretained within center aperture 34 and inserted into end hole 36 (FIGS.6, 7 and 8). Means for retaining the flange plates 32, 33 and bolt 35 inassembled relation, clamped to the rear wheel support structure,comprises a nut 37 having a large handle head. Preferably, the flangeplates 32, 33 are also provided with pads 38, 39 to protect the finishon the bicycle frame (FIGS. 6, 7).

[0025] Means for secruing the towing arm 30 to the mounting bracketassembly comprises a flexible connector 45 attached at its distal endsto the hitch pin 44 and to the towing arm, respectively (FIGS. 6 and 9).A clamp 46 is used to hold the flexible connector 45 in place on thehitch pin 44 (FIGS. 6, 11, 13). In the preferred embodiment, theflexible connector 45 is a hose which measures, by way of example, 1inch in diameter and 10 inches long. In addition, distal ends of a firstsafety strap 49 are attached to the towing arm 30 and to the rear wheelsupport structure (FIGS. 11 and 13).

[0026] Shaped roughly in the form of a large imaginary question mark,the towing arm 30 defines an arcuate front section which allows thetowed jogging cart 3 to be centered behind the rear wheel of the towingbicycle 2 (FIG. 9). Rearwardly of the arcuate front section, the towingarm 30 is attached to the handle of the jogging cart 3 with a bolt,threadedly engageble with a wing nut 48, and a spacer 47 (FIG. 9). Meansfor attaching the towing arm 30 to the undercarriage of the baby joggingcart include two bolts which protrude downwardly therefrom and wingednuts 9, 10 for threadedly engaging them (FIG. 9).

[0027] The procedure for securing the towed bike 4 to the rear of thejogging cart 3 as follows: The front wheel 6 is turned approximately 90degrees and placed in front of the cart's rear axle 7 (FIGS. 1, 2, 3). Aquick opening strap 21 is then inserted through the spokes and securedaround both the rim of wheel 6 and 0the axle 7. Next an elastic band,such as a bungie cord 22 having hooked ends, is wrapped around the towedbike handle stem; and the hooks are placed in holes, otherwise used tohold a sun screen on the jogging cart, defined by the cart handles(FIGS. 4, 5). The use of the elastic band keeps the towed bike in avertically upright position while it is being towed in a straight pathand allows it to lean smoothly outward on turns before returning it toan upright position, because of tension in the elastic band which tendsto restore it to its shortest configuration.

[0028] A second safety strap 23 is used to secure the bicycle handles tothe jogging cart 3 so that the bicycle's front wheel 6 is maintained ina position of being turned approximately 90 degrees. The towed bicycle 4can be mounted on or removed from the transporter in an interval of lessthan one minute. Moreover, a towed bicycle 4 equipped with trainingwheels 8 is handled in the same manner as a bicycle without trainingwheels (FIG. 5).

[0029] In operation, the bicycle transporter according to the presentinvention allows the rider 1 to tow the jogging cart 3 and bicycle 4 intandem even over rough roads and curbs. With its mechanism for mountingthe towed bicycle 4, the bike transporter can be utilized even while achild reclines in the seat of the baby jogging cart 3 and her bicycle 4is being towed.

[0030] For storage, the towing arm 30 is disconnected from the towingbike 2 by opening the buckle of the safety strap 49 and turning theenlarged nut 37. The towing arm 30 can be left in place or, alternately,removed from the baby jogging cart 5 by unthreading wing nuts 9, 10, 48.

[0031] It is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive otherapplications, modifications and/or changes in the invention describedabove. Any such applications, modifications or changes which fall withinthe purview of the description are intended to be illustrative and notintended to be limitative. The scope of the invention is limited only bythe scope of the claims appended hereto.

It is claimed:
 1. An apparatus for towing a second bicycle with a firstbicycle, the first bicycle having a rear wheel support structure,comprising: (a) a baby jogging cart having a handle, a seat, rear axle,and front wheel support forks; the jogging cart having its front wheelremoved; (b) means, including a bracket assembly removably mounted onthe rear wheel support structure, for towing the jogging cart, thetowing means extending rearwardly from the first bicycle and beingfastened to the front wheel support forks of the jogging cart; and (c)means for removably attaching the second bicycle to the rear of thejogging cart.
 2. The apparatus according to claim 1 in which the bracketassembly further comprises two flange plates which are movably coupledtogether and means, including a bolt and nut for threadedly engaging thebolt, for holding the flange plates in assembled relation when they areclamped around a portion of the rear wheel support structure.
 3. Theapparatus according to claim 2 which further comprises a hitch pinmounted on the bracket assembly and means, including a flexibleconnector attached to the hitch pin, for attaching the towing arm to thebracket assembly.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein themeans for removably attaching the second bicycle further comprises atleast one flexible strap for holding the front wheel of the secondbicycle in front of the rear axle of the jogging cart and at least oneflexible strap for attaching the handle bar of the bicycle to the handleof the jogging cart, so that the second bicycle can be towed with itsfront wheel held in a position in which it is turned approximately 90degrees and placed between the rear axle and the rear of the joggingcart seat.